ALMERE, THE NETHERLANDS: To help the Philippines after the devastating typhoon Haiyan on Friday 8 November 2013, Victron Energy donated 60 solar mobile phone chargers. The solar mobile phone charger can charge 20 mobile phones at the same time.
The Dutch relief organisation HHCP (Heetense Hulpgoederen Centrum Philippines) has shipped the Victron equipment to Tacloban, the capital of Leyte, Philippines. The goods will arrive at the end of December. HHCP will be on location to receive the goods and to help with distribution and installation.
Typhoon Haiyan:
Typhoon Haiyan has cost the lives of thousands of people. It has been the most devastating typhoon in the world this year. Large numbers of buildings and houses have been completely destroyed and transmission lines toppled or badly damaged. Restoring the power supply in Tacloban may take up to six months.
Matthijs Vader, MD of Victron Energy said: "Mobile phones are providing a lifeline for aid workers and survivors. Communication is one of the first things you need in a disaster area. Not only to stay in touch with your family and inform them about your situation, but even more to organize the relief. In an area where roads are flooded, houses destructed and electricity is almost completely down, mobile phones become useless if they cannot be charged. And that is where Victron steps in. Solar power does not need any infrastructure so our chargers can be installed easily at any place on the island."
Solar mobile phone charger:
Victron Energy wants to help the survivors of the typhoon. For this reason, Victron is donating 60 solar mobile phone chargers with 60 batteries to the Philippines.
The solar mobile phone charger comes with a solar panel and batteries. The solar power is stored in the battery. Twenty AC power sockets are powered from the battery by an inverter.